Title: I Want to Hold You High and Take Your Pain Away
Author: Takato Metallium
Fandom: Digimon Tamers
Characters: Jenrya Lee and Takato Matsuda, pairing will be/is Jenkato
Prompt: 034: Broken
Word Count: 537
Rating: PG-13/T
Jenrya moves his fingers through Takato's hair, smoothing back the messy chestnut locks away from his face. The other boy is asleep in his lap, emotionally drained and exhausted. Guilmon and Terriermon are asleep elsewhere in the cave they're currently occupying; he can hear the dinosaurian's loud snores and his own partner's mumbling.
Takato's hand clenches at his pant leg, a small whimper escaping his mouth as his body shudders. Jen can probably guess what he was dreaming about, and his face deepens into a frown, his hand stopping its motions and laying rested on Takato's head. Guilmon's evolution into Megidramon had left him broken and scarred, wracked with guilt. Their parting with the other Tamers hadn't helped matters.
Jen pursed his lips together as another cry left Takato's throat, feeling something wet soak his pants. Tears. He contemplated waking his companion. Another night of fitful sleep wouldn't do Takato any good. He let out a small sigh, looking out the cavern entrance just beyond where he sat, lost in thought. There wasn't anything he could do but offer his support and be there for his friend. He wanted to do more, so much more, but he wasn't able to. Takato had to work through this on his own.
Takato's eyes flew open, cheeks streaked with tears and a breathy gasp falling from his lips. Jenrya removed his hand, watching the other boy sit up, breathing harshly. "Takato-kun?" Takato's eyes are wild and Jenrya fears that his friend is going to go feral again before Takato's expression softens, gaze returning to normal. He places his hand on the other Tamer's shoulder, letting him know that he's there, that he's not alone.
"Another nightmare?" he asks, his voice a soft whisper as he feels Takato begin to tremble under his touch. Takato nods, sniffling. The noise has woken Guilmon and Terriermon - Jen can feel their curious gazes on their Tamers. He wraps his arms around Takato's shoulders and pulls the slightly younger boy to his chest, practically pulling him into his lap. Takato clings to him, burying his face in Jen's shoulder as the tears start. The half-Chinese Tamer is patient, rubbing circles around Takato's back soothingly, murmuring kind words into his ear. After a while, Takato's sobs lessen and his hands unclench from Jenrya's shirt.
"'m sorry," he whispers, reaching up to dry his eyes with the back of his hand. "You're stuck here because of me."
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Jenrya murmurs, pressing his forehead to Takato's gently, smoothing away sweaty, damp hair from his friend's face. He tilted his head up, brushing his lips against Takato's temple.
"But what if I loose control again?" Takato asks, closing his eyes. His body begins shaking once more at the thought and his breath hitches. "I...I don't want to hurt you accidentally. I don't want to cause Guilmon any more pain."
"I'll stop you," he says, fingers running down along Takato's jaw to his chin in a soft caress. "Terriermon and I will stop you. I promise."
With that promise, he feels as though he's put a small piece of Takato's broken soul back together, because the smile he receives in return is breathtaking.
